Crystal River current., 1887-09-03
The Que CTS Courtship.
n tho Weekly Irish Times.

ment OF fairy lore about the story OF
the courtship and betrothal OF Queen
Victoria. King Leopold of Belgium.
the favorite uncle OF the young Queen,
who had always exercised a loving su.
pervision of her early training, brought
about a visit of Prince Albert ofSaxe-
Coburg- Gotha and his brother to Eng
land, in order that Victoria, who was
then but 20 years old, might be
brought in contact with them. 1t
was not limited that she was expected
to look upon one OF the princes as a
possible husband. Her good uncle
intended that in case affection devel-
oped, love should take its course.
His plans resulted most happily and
q sympathy OF dispositions and of
tastes soon led to stronger bond be-
tween Victoria and the gentle, cultured
Albert. Their first meeting was at
ball. The youthful Queen and the
Prince were both there, and the Queen
gave the Prince a bouquet. What to
do with the gift was a puzzle to the
possessor, but i. was only for mo-
ment that he stood in doubt. TAX
ing out his knife he cut a slit in the
tunic of the uniform he wore, and
right there-over his heart-placed
securely the blossoms the royal lady
had given MIN. He had just a lew
days before come from his own home
over the sea, and the Queen asked
him how he like England. "Oh, very
much" Next day the question was
asked again and once or twice oftener
it was put, until at length the Queen,
with a sweet tremor in her voice and
the.mantling blush OF the rose in her
lace, ventured to say, "Would you
not like to stay in England" 1t was
in this fashion that the ordinary con-
ditions of the momentous event were
reversed and the man said Eyes" to
the woman's question.
The Queen wrote to King Leopold:
II told Albert this morning OF it.
The warm affection he showed me on
learning this gave me great pleasure.
He seems perfection; and l think that
1 have the prospect OF very great hap
piness before me. | love him more
than | can say, and shall do every
thing in my power to render this sac
rifce (for such, in my opinion, it is)
as small as ! can. He seems to have
great tact-a very necessary thing in
his position. These few days have
passed like a dream to me, and | am
80 bewildered by It all that l know
hardly how to write; bnt do feel very
happy"
ALBERT S LETTER HOME.
Prince Albert wrote us follows to
his grandmother, the Dowaser Ouch
ess OF Gotha, who had filled moth
sr's place to him:
1.-THE Queen sent for me alone to her
room a few days aao and declared TO
me, a genuine outburst OF love and
Affection, that had gained her whole
heart and would make her su.
premely happy if 1 would make her
the sacrifice of sharing her life with
her; for she said she looked on it as u
sacrifice. The only thing that troub-
was worthy OF me. The Joyous open
me this quite enchanted me, and l
was quite carried away by it. She is
really most good and aniable and |
am quite sure that we shall be happy
together"
The Queen called her Council and
announced her marriage. In her
diary she wrote:
1.-The room was full, but I hardly
knew who was there. Lord Melbourne
l saw looking kindly at me with tears
III his eyes, but he was not near me.
l then read my short declaration. l
felt that my hands shook, but l did
not make one mistake. | felt most
happy and thankful when it was over"
One OF her ladies, excusably curious
on the matter, asked the Queen after
wards if it did not make her nervous
to have to make such an announce
ment to the Council. We are told
that the reply was, "Oh. no; that l
considered simply us matter OF bust
ness; but did fell some embarrass.
ment in making known to the Prince
my feelings in his regards
Next came the era of love letters
while the Prince was making his prep
aration in Coburg to become an En1-
lishman. He could but use the words
OF every true lover in high or low estate:
Gail have to say is that while pos
sess your love thay can not make me
unhappy" And so the weeks passed,
and when February came the Prince
landed at Dover, to be welded now to
England as Welt as EgI1lgQsla eeA;a
and was received joyously by the peo-
pie. When he drove up to Bucking-
ham Palace it was to find his bride
standing at the outer door eager to
Welcome him." He was naturalized
ON the following day and created
field marshal OF England.
THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY.
There was great briliancy and dis
play at the marriage ceremony, but it
vas not without it's simple touches.